​The Braves have certainly tested their fans’ patience after what felt like the hottest first two months in franchise history. June cooled the heat a bit, and July is shaping up as a 5-6 stretch with JR Ritchie poised to finish the first half, but the team is reeling from a string of injuries. Inside the organization, there’s talk about whether some time off could help, and I’ll admit I could use a break as well. For me, a rest from the starting rotation would be a relief—especially when it features Chris Sale and the looming, wheels-of-fortune feel of the bullpen. The ugly side of relief pitching has worn thin, and Walt Weiss’s continual decisions seem to put games in the mercy of that unstable bullpen. I’m also exhausted by a roster’s offense that can’t sustain momentum and by a fanbase that rides the ups and downs with a rollercoaster of sometimes harsh, impulsive takes.
So, are you ready for a break too? Will you be prepared to dive back in and deal with starter roulette and the Tim Hyers Batting Approach of the Day on Friday when we return? Sure, if we must. What else is there to do? We want to stay up to date with college football and track all 105 perma-free agents on our favorite team’s roster. Are we still chasing the Falcons’ endless march toward 8-9? Any CFL outliers in the mix? Don’t mind me—I’ll be over here, games on pause, playing Mario Kart with my kid until we get back to real baseball.